A pair of dedicated men are celebrating 40 years service with one of the north-east of Scotland’s oldest firms - plumbing and heating specialist William Wilson.

Ronnie Bruce and Davie Davidson joined the century-old Aberdeen company in 1967, and have spent almost 35 years of their careers working together at its branch in Elgin, Moray.

The duo have seen some major changes in their industry over the years, from the switch from electric and oil-powered heating to the modern gas systems which are most common today, to significant improvements in health and safety at work.

They are still excited by their jobs, enjoying close working relationships with customers who in some cases are the third or fourth generation of the same family business they have served.

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Mr Davidson, 56, is the branch’s heating manager and is determined to continue in his job for many years to come.

“I’ll keep going until they tell me to stop, I think. I’m really interested to see where the technology that’s being developed now is going, just as I was 20 years ago,” said the father of two.

“William Wilson gave me the chance to take on the running of a branch after I’d been with them a few years, with the choice of their new Dundee store or the Elgin branch. I’m still here, and I’m still very happy.”

His long-standing colleague Mr Bruce, 60, has had a variety of positions at the firm after arriving as a young locksmith looking for a new career, and is today responsible for handling key sales accounts and contracts.

“They’re a good company to be part of, we’ve always had opportunities to develop our careers and try something different,” he said.

“William Wilson was for so many years a family business and now, as part of a bigger group, the place still has the same great working atmosphere. We’re a team, we back eachother up and we enjoy working together.”

Sales and operations director for the company, Robin Mackinlay, paid tribute to both men’s ongoing commitment to the firm.

(CD/SP)